Pope's doctors fearful they couldn't save him
Pope Francis gives a thumbs up from the Gemelli Hospital balcony, warmly acknowledging the crowd gathered to welcome his recovery.
VATICAN MEDIA Divisione Foto
Pope Francis' medical team faced a difficult decision after the 88-year-old pontiff experienced a severe breathing crisis while in the hospital, his doctor said Tuesday.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, speaking in an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera, described the crisis on February 28 when the pope inhaled vomit. "It was terrible, we really thought we wouldn't be able to (save him)," Alfieri said.
The pope was in Rome's Gemelli Hospital for nearly 40 days battling pneumonia, and there were concerns about his survival.
"We had to choose whether to stop and let him go, or force it and try all the drugs and therapies possible, running the very high risk of damaging other organs" than his lungs, Alfieri added.
Throughout the ordeal, Pope Francis remained clear-headed but left key decisions to his personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, in whom he has complete trust.
Strappetti reportedly told the doctors, "try everything, don't give up," to which Alfieri noted, "And no one gave up."
Pope Francis was discharged from the hospital on Sunday, but doctors say he faces at least two months of convalescence after what was the longest and most serious hospital stay of his 12-year papacy.
The pontiff appeared tired and worn as he left the hospital.
Since his discharge, he has concelebrated mass at the Santa Marta guesthouse, where he resides, and has been undergoing breathing and speech therapy as part of his recovery, according to the Vatican.
However, the Vatican also stated that Francis has received no visitors "apart from his closest associates," and no date has been set for his next public appearance.
The Vatican further revealed that the pope is undergoing therapy "in order to fully recover the ability to breathe and speak."
Though the Vatican has not disclosed the specific medical equipment being used at Santa Marta or the number of caregivers assisting the pope, it did confirm that Francis still uses a cannula — a plastic tube inserted into his nostrils — to deliver high-flow oxygen when necessary.
The pope will not preside over the weekly general audience on Wednesday. It is also likely that Sunday’s Angelus will be published rather than read aloud by the pope.